Best of 80s Music
Another music post. Sorry.
I'm working on a mix album of the best 1980s songs. I'd appreciate your input. I have so far found a dozen or so songs which I believe represent the best of the 80s, but it's possible I've missed some.
Here are my criteria:
Mainly, the song has to represent the 80s. When the song begins, one immediately thinks of Ronald Reagan, bad fashion, etc.
The song cannot just be a good song that happened to be made in the 80s. A general rule of thumb: if you still really like the song, it doesn't qualify.
The song must evoke the era, not a specific performer from that era. Thus, no Madonna. No Prince. Hey, it's my list....
I think there may end up being a second list for "80s Metal," since that's what I spent most of the decade listening to... The stuff on this list is what I spent the decade despising. Only now, through the strange laws of nostalgia, do I enjoy it.
I don't want to contaminate your ideas with what I already have, though I'd be happy to send you the list upon request. I'll also send CD copies of the mix to anyone who asks...
So reach back into the mists of time and recommend away.
posted by Eric @ 7:39 PM
9 comments
9 Comments:
The following is a definitive list of 80s songs. These all are on my Itunes library, which is sitting at 10,000 songs. Some of these are indeed cheesy, some are killer jams.
we built this city- jefferson starship
girls just want to have fun- cyndi lauper
i wear my sunglasses at night- corey hart
summer of 69 - bryan adams
take on me- aha
True- spandau ballet
Hungry Like the Wolf- Duran 2
Walk Like an Egyption- Bangles
Manic Monday- Bananrama
Livin on a Prayer- Madonna
Brass Monkey- Beasties
Sussudio- Phil Collins
Kokomo- Beach Boys
Dancing With Myself- Billy Idol
Big Shot- Billy Joel
Don’t Be Cruel- Bobby Brown
Born in the USA- Bruce
Jack and Diane- JCM
Magic- The Cars
It’s a Miracle- Culture Club
Let’s Dance- Bowie
Just a gigolo- Diamond Dave
Pour Some Sugar on Me- Def Leppard
Money for Nothing- Dire Straits
Boys of Summer- Don Henley
I wanna go back- Eddie Money
One thing leads to another- The Fixx
Juke box hero- Foreigner
Land of confusion- Genesis
Got my mind set on you- George Harrison
Careless whisper- Wham
You belong to the city- Glen Frey
We got the beat- Go gos
Touch of grey- Grateful Dead
Paradise city- G-n-R
Kiss on my list- Hall and Oates
And we danced- Hooters
things can only get better- howard jones
power of love-huey lewis & the news
separate ways (worlds apart)- journey
danger zone- kenny loggins
penny lover- lionel richie
lovin every minute of it-loverboy
material girl- madonna
Who can it be now?- men at work
thriller- michael
girl you know it’s true-milli vanilli
home sweet home- Crue
hangin tough- NKOTB
weird science- Oingo Boingo
say it isn’t so- The Outfield
forever your girl- Paula Abdul
west end girls- Pet shop boys
against all odds- phil collins
1999- prince
the one i love-REM
endless summer nights-Richard Marx
never gonna give you up- Ric Astley
jessie’s girl- Rick springfield
push it- Salt-n-Pepa
rock you like a hurricane- Scorpions
18 and life- Skid Row
the finer things- Steve Winwood
rooms on fire- Stevie Nix
eye of the tiger- Survivor
shout- Tears for Fears
wishing well- Terrence Trent D'Arby
hold me now- Thompson Twins
voices carry- Til Tuesday
what’s love got to do with it-Tina
africa-Toto
with or without you- U2
panama- VH
wake me up before you go go-Wham!
greatest love of all-Whitney
legs-ZZ Top
Head to Toe- Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
The song must invoke the era, not a specific performer from that era. Thus, no Madonna. No Prince. Hey, it's my list....
This makes no sense. I will post as I see fit. I am your master.
I’m not sure I understand your criteria (does it really say "INvoke" the era -- shouldn't it be Evoke?), but here are a few suggestions. As you note, it’s almost too easy to list Prince and Madonna songs, but the problem with a lot of lesser known songs is that they don’t evoke the era. On the other hand, a lot of one-hit wonders are, in retrospect, frikkin’ annoying. So here are some suggestions for both of your potential mixes. I tried to avoid the obvious in both cases, because I trust that your metal mix will surely contain Ratt and Stryper.
Eye in the Sky – The Alan Parsons Project
Run to You – Bryan Adams
Hot and Bothered (or Nobody’s Fool) – Cinderella
Something So Strong – Crowded House
Maneater – Hall & Oates
Perfect Strangers – Deep Purple
Do Ya – Electric Light Orchestra
Tuff Enuff – Fabulous Thunderbirds
Are We Ourselves – The Fixx
Keep Your Hands to Yourself – Georgia Satellites
Send Her My Love – Journey
Heaven’s On Fire – Kiss
I Can’t Live Without My Radio (or Big Ole Butt) – LL Cool J
Working for the Weekend – Loverboy
In My House – Mary Jane Girls
I Melt with You – Modern English
It’s My Life – Talk Talk
Your Love – The Outfield
Bark at the Moon – Ozzy Osbourne
Every Time You Go Away – Paul Young
Let My Love Open the Door – Pete Townshend
A Groovy Kind of Love – Phil Collins
Pretty in Pink – Psychedelic Furs
More than This – Roxy Music
Head Over Heels – Tears for Fears
Handle with Care – Traveling Wilburys
Still of the Night – Whitesnake
Whitman
All I Need- Jack Wagner
Come on Eileen- Dexys Midnight Runners
soft cell - tainted love
eddie grant - electric avenue
tainted love! yes, that's the song I was trying to remember (i did remember the soft cell part...who knows why)
I'll go ahead and post my initial list-- this was before I read any of the suggestions, and is subject to change. Some may be added, some subtracted... Comments are welcome.
Hold Me Now-- Thompson Twins
Kyrie-- Mr. Mister
Our House-- Madness
St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)-- John Parr
Hungry Like the Wolf-- Duran Duran
Down Under-- Men At Work
Take On Me-- a-ha
If You Leave-- OMD
Shout-- Tears for Fears
OR Head Over Heels-- Tears for Fears (I think it's a rule that there can only be one song per artist)
Voices Carry-- 'Til Tuesday
Sister Christian-- Night Ranger
Don't Dream It's Over-- Crowded House
No One Is to Blame-- Howard Jones
i forgot about sister christian!!! that's hysterical.
...And yet no one entered "THE" quintessential 80's song: JUMP by Van Halen ...=)
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